Deputy mayor urges study of legal tools to require industrial balance before residential in large developments

In city commission comments, Deputy Mayor Gibson asked staff to research whether Lake Wales has legal authority to require a balance of industrial development before approving residential phases in large mixed-use or master-planned projects.

Gibson said the request grew from recent public debate over the Stone Ridge (Stoneridge) proposal and from a packet submitted by resident Howard Davies that, Gibson said, outlined legal mechanisms the city could use to require industrial development before approving residential units. Gibson described the idea as a tool to support local job creation and higher median incomes.

Commissioners discussed compulsion-type zoning mechanisms and the possibility of including built-in requirements in master plans or annexation agreements. Commissioner Gillespie and others said they would like the research to confirm whether such measures are legally permissible and how they could be implemented without violating developer rights.

The commission did not take formal action; Gibson asked staff to research the legal basis and report back. The city manager said the Stoneridge matter will return at second reading after state coordination review, and staff will provide further analysis on the suggested tools before that hearing.